UK-based exhibition organisers have given resounding praise for the official opening of the new Elizabeth Line – London’s new high-speed railway.
Reducing journey times to the venue by up to two thirds, the first trains arrived at ExCeL London’s own dedicated station (Custom House) on 24 May, where passengers were met by ExCeL's CEO Jeremy Rees.
Organisers from the first two events to benefit were also on hand to take part in a seminal ribbon cutting, while, on the night of 23 May, the Royal Docks venue lit up purple in honour of the launch. Delegates will now be able to travel from central London to ExCeL in 12 minutes. International visitors will be able to travel from Heathrow Airport to the venue in only 43 minutes.
Laura Shapiro, group event director at CloserStill Media who organises Oncology Professional Care, said: “We have a long and successful history of hosting events at ExCeL and the opening of the Elizabeth Line is a fantastic addition to what is already a world-class venue. We expect the new line to lead to an increase in footfall for our events but also a higher proportion of C-Suite delegates and healthcare professionals.”
ExCeL’s Caroline Gourlay, Michael Corbett and Alex Slater from CloserStill Media, with Simon Mills (ExCeL)
Greg Hitchen, group chief executive of Terrapinn who runs Advanced Therapies Live, said: “We’re delighted by the opening of the new Elizabeth line – a new ‘events superhighway’ for London. With more than 100 of the hottest, most interesting ATMP start-ups attending our event this week, the new line will undoubtedly allow more time for our visitors and exhibitors to learn, network and trade.”
ExCeL’s Nick Coffey (left) together with Greg Hitchen – Terrapinn – and Simon Mills, ExCeL
With ExCeL hosting 350 events this year, hundreds of shows will benefit from the new Elizabeth line.
Katy Fryatt, launch director at Hyve Group, organisers of Shoptalk Europe 2022 which takes place at ExCeL from 6-8 June, said: “Shoptalk is the world’s largest community of retail changemakers with our Europe event attracting more than 3,000 attendees from some of the largest retailers and global brands. London is home to so many of these skilled decision-makers and the opening of the Elizabeth line means ExCeL becomes even easier to travel to, combined with an expanded catchment area translating to even more professionals who are now based within 45 minutes journey time.”
Nicole Mills, exhibition director at Infosecurity Group, 21-23 June, added: “As Europe’s most influential information and cybersecurity event, we took the decision to move to ExCeL for 2022 to allow us to offer increased value and versatility to our customers. The opening of the Elizabeth Line just before our event this year is fantastic, enabling us to offer greater connectivity to our customers within and outside the UK.”
